Read The Hordes of Chanakra (Knights of Aerioch) for Free Online Page A

gift and few there will be who will stand against you."
    "I think I'm going to be one big bruise tomorrow." Kreg stretched, feeling the knots in his muscles and the stinging of welts raised by Kaila's sword. "Well, I guess I'm ready to continue." He took a ready stance.
    "Nay." Kaila shook her head. "'Twill suffice for the nonce."
    "In that case--" Kreg let his arms fall to his sides.  His feet kicked up little clouds of dust as he scuffed over to the rack where they had hung their weapons. "I'm starved.  What say we go find a good eatery?" He used his cloak to wipe sweat from his face and hair.
    "'Eatery'?" Kaila scratched behind her right ear. "Your words are strange, but if you mean an inn or a tavern I would say 'aye'."
    "Right," Kreg said.  He stared at the cloak wadded up in his hands for a moment then shook it out.  Since the buildings provided shade against the sun he did not really need to wear it so he slung it over one shoulder.
    "Now as to food," Kaila said as they stepped through the gate onto the street, "the common room at the inn is as good as will be found in Trevanta.  In earlier days, perhaps...well, board is thin in Trevanta in these times.  Moreover, Shillond should soon return from his business and we may meet him there."
    Kreg nodded. "One thing I have to do is find employment of some sort, and that fast.  Not much money left.  I don't want to get more the same way I got this." He tapped his belt pouch.
    "What skills have you?" Kaila asked as they left the courtyard.
    "I'm not sure," Kreg said. "At least as far as what's useful here.  I don't think my former line of work exists here."
    "What is this occupation?" Kaila asked. "Mayhap you will be surprised."
    "Have you ever heard of computers?  IT?"
    “Eye Tee?” Kaila asked.
    Kreg smiled. "Don’t have it here?  I thought not.  If you don’t have IT how can I be an IT consultant?"
    "Ha!" Kaila said. “Still, I am sure you will find your calling."
    "That reminds me." Kreg turned to face her. "What is this thing with the nomads?  For a second there I thought the smith was going to hit me for being one, never mind that I'm not."
    "It is simple enough.  The lifeblood of the city is its merchants.  When they travel by sea they face pirates, by land, they face...” She paused and looked past Kreg’s shoulder for a moment, then shook her head. “They face raiders.  To them one desert tribe is like another and all are raiders."
    Kreg nodded.  "One more thing I didn't know that could have tripped me up.” He looked over his shoulder in the direction Kaila had but did not see what had drawn her attention, just a shadowed alley. “What?”
    “I thought I saw someone,” Kaila said. “No matter.  There is no one there now.”
    “I was lucky to fall in with you and Shillond," Kreg said thoughtfully. "Had I not, I would be in dire straits by now."
    "In truth," Kaila said, "how could I refuse one possessing such courage, and a defender of the weak?  And too, there was something about you that drew... But stay.  A thought has occurred to me.  Mayhap you could teach your 'way of yielding'.  There is not much call for teachers of combat without arms but mayhap you could make a living thus."
    "Perhaps," he said, unconvinced. "On the other hand, there's still a bit of time before I have to make a decision.  I think I'll wait a while and see what happens." He glanced down at his pouch ruefully. "A very short while."
    "I would not worry overmuch, were I you," Kaila said. "One may always make one's way if he has courage, determination, and a stout sword arm.  The first two I have seen you to possess.  For the third, have you not the best warrior in the Eight Kingdoms instructing you?"
    Kreg started to retort, then stopped.  While he was no judge of swordsmanship, he suspected that Kaila had ability far beyond what she had displayed in their training.  While he had never touched her with his sword, she had always carefully measured her